Physiotherapist Graeme Poole "saves" the day

December 4, 201012:00AM PST

Brandon Timko

OXNARD, California – Who do you turn to when you run out of goalkeepers? That was the question that Vancouver Whitecaps FC were faced with at training last week after a stomach virus ran through the team.

The bug hit the goalkeeping core especially hard. With Jay Nolly feeling ill and Brian Sylvestre sidelined with a hamstring injury, only Simon Thomas was available in net on Wednesday, though he too was feeling sick. The lack of healthy bodies left the squad one capable shotstopper short of fielding two teams for their scrimmage. Or so they thought...

Poole nearly had another chance against Ventura the next day when Thomas too was overpowered by the stomach virus. Luckily for the Whitecaps, though, Jay Nolly was able to battle through his sickness and play the full 90 minutes for the team in their 2-1 victory against the Ventura County Fusion.

“It’s a good thing that he was feeling better,” said Poole. “Or else it probably would have been 7-2.”